The most common mistake beginners make at craps is not bringing enough money. Sit down with too little and a normal cold streak wipes you out before the table even has a chance to turn. This calculator tells you how much to bring based on how you actually plan to play.
The 30x Rule
A common guideline is to bring at least 30 times your base bet (Pass Line only, no odds). Playing $10 Pass Line? Bring $300 minimum. This gives you enough runway to survive a normal cold streak without going bust.
Odds Bets Cost More Per Round but Less Per Dollar
Taking odds increases your total money at risk per round, which means bigger swings. But because the odds bet has 0% house edge, it actually reduces the percentage the casino takes from your total action. The net effect: you need a bigger starting stack, but your expected loss per hour barely changes. The extra money is just riding on a fair coin flip.
The Table Minimum Is Your Real Cost Driver
A $5 table with 2x odds is significantly cheaper per hour than a $25 table with 10x odds. The Pass Line bet is the only part the casino profits from. Everything behind it is mathematically fair. So the lower the minimum, the less the casino takes, period. If you are budget-conscious, finding a low-minimum table matters more than finding high odds.
Stop-Loss Is Not a Strategy
Setting a "walk away if I lose $X" number does not change your expected loss or the house edge. What it does is prevent emotional decision-making after a bad streak. That is worth something. Pick a number before you sit down and stick to it. The math does not care, but your future self will appreciate the discipline.
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